February 9, 2005
Education Week, Vol. 24, Issue 22
School & District Management
Theater Class Stirs Debate Over Accent
A theater class in rural eastern Kentucky has seen more publicity than organizers could ever have imagined. The reason: They were teaching young Appalachian performers to get rid of native accents.
Education
A Washington Roundup
Spellings: PR Efforts Were Misguided
Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings says the Department of Education committed “errors of judgment” by participating in a public relations contract that paid the commentator Armstrong Williams to promote the No Child Left Behind Act.
Curriculum
Miami District to Study H.S. Courses With Eye to Addressing Inequities
The Miami-Dade County school district is undertaking an examination of its high school course offerings, vowing to make them more equitable after a newspaper report found a richer array of choices in wealthier neighborhoods than in poorer ones.
School & District Management
District Making ‘Transition’ to Bigger Supply of Schools of Choice
By 2008, Philadelphia school system plans to make a transition from about 55 high schools to between 70 and 80 smaller ones of choice.
Early Childhood
A Washington Roundup
Head Start Group Releases Test Data
The National Head Start Association released data last week that it said showed Head Start programs across the country were successful in preparing young children for school. The group criticized the Bush administration for allegedly holding back in announcing the results.
Education
Report Roundup
College Opportunity
States should conduct studies regularly to keep track of the number of students going to and graduating from college, and the adequacy of financial-aid programs, a study recommends.
Education
A State Capitals Roundup
Ohio Panel Issues School Finance Report
A panel convened by Gov. Bob Taft of Ohio issued 18 recommendations last week that it says would improve the way the state pays for public education.
Education
A National Roundup
Georgia District Backs Off Plan to Name School for Secessionist
Joseph E. Brown, Georgia’s governor during the Civil War, won’t have a high school in Cherokee County named for him after all.
Education
A National Roundup
Insurance Broker Will Pay to Settle Fraud Charges
Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc., the nation’s largest insurance broker, has agreed to pay $850 million in restitution to its clients—including school customers—who were deceived about the validity of some bids and the broker’s fee arrangements with some insurance companies.
School Choice & Charters
A National Roundup
Charter Reprieve
An Orange County, Calif., school board has agreed to try to negotiate student-safety concerns with a charter school rather than revoke its charter.
Teaching Profession
Runoff Election Thrusts D.C. Union Critic Into Top Job
George Parker, a junior high mathematics teacher in the District of Columbia schools, has been elected president of the teachers’ union for the nation’s capital.
School Choice & Charters
Finding Strength in Numbers
Being able to spend money free of bureaucratic red tape is one of the appeals of being a charter school.
Equity & Diversity
Florida Study Shows Achievement Lags for Racially Isolated Schools in the State
More than half a century after the U.S. Supreme Court outlawed school segregation, a new Florida study shows that the racial composition of schools still matters when it comes to scores on student-achievement tests.
Curriculum
For-Profit Writes Mandatory Courses for Phila. High Schools
A new, standardized college-preparatory curriculum crafted by Kaplan K12 Learning Services Group is a critical element in Philadelphia's plan to improve secondary education.
Education
A National Roundup
Spelling Bee Back On in District Worried About Competition
A Rhode Island school district has reversed itself after deciding to cancel an annual spelling bee over concerns that the contest singled out students and could hurt the self-esteem of those who didn’t perform well.
Education
A National Roundup
Head of Mich. Intermediate District Convicted on Misconduct Charges
A former superintendent of an intermediate school district in Michigan was convicted last week on charges of misconduct in office and conflict of interest.
Education
A National Roundup
Terrorism Recovery
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded $5 million to the New York City schools to help them address students’ continuing social and emotional needs following the terrorist attack in the city on Sept. 11, 2001.
School & District Management
Chicago School Official to Head Up Authorizers’ Group
The chief of Chicago’s high-profile push to start new small schools announced last week that he is leaving to lead a national group representing the school districts, states, universities, and other institutions that grant charter schools their contracts to operate.
Federal
Utah Is Unlikely Fly in Bush’s School Ointment
Utah state Rep. Margaret Dayton adores President Bush. Yet she is driving one of Mr. Bush’s biggest education-related headaches.
Education
Table: Why Not College?
Includes updates and/or revisions.
A recent national survey of 18- to 25-year-olds asked a number of questions about education and job prospects, such as why young adults don;t attend college.
A recent national survey of 18- to 25-year-olds asked a number of questions about education and job prospects, such as why young adults don;t attend college.
Education
People in the News
David G. O'Neil
David G. O’Neil is the new director of publishing for Education Development Center Inc.
Education
People in the News
Andrew R. Campanella
Andrew R. Campanella recently became the director of communications for the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence.
Education
A National Roundup
Chart: Americans' Priorities for Public Education
In a Novermber 2004 national telephone poll of 1,019 adults, the Gallup Organization asked respondents:
Education
A National Roundup
More Small Schools Slated to Open in New York City
More than 50 small secondary schools are scheduled to open in New York City next fall, the city’s mayor and schools chancellor announced last week.
Federal
Opinion
The Bigger Picture
In our attempt to be more like the countries we most admire, we have adopted practices that few of these countries use, says Iris C. Rotberg.
Standards & Accountability
New Web Site Aims to Help Prevent Use of ‘Diploma Mills’
The U.S. Department of Education has launched an online database that lists nationally accredited colleges and universities to help expose—by their omission—companies that offer bogus or substandard academic degrees via the Internet.